Mr. Speaker, this morning, and even this afternoon, we have had the “pleasure” to listen to several speeches, including one by the intergovernmental affairs minister. I must say that if I were at home, if I were a mere individual and not an MP, listening to the minister, I would say it is as though tomorrow morning Quebec is going to say yes to a referendum on sovereignty. When listening to the minister's speech, one had the definite impression this government is giving up on Canada and any improvement to the federation. This is exactly what it is doing.
This bill says: “Here is the recipe to break up the country.” We cannot support it. On behalf of the Progressive Conservative Party I have the following message for the government: Step aside. It is going to be all right. We will put forward some positive proposals. We are going to talk about the real problems Canadians and Quebecers are facing. We will take care of the future of the country.
The governing party used to say: “We want to keep the country together. We want to keep Quebecers and Canadians united.” For the past few days and weeks, Canada has never been as divided as it is today.
Quebecers themselves have never been this divided. Canadians have never been this divided. For years now parliamentarians have never been this divided. I must say that even within our own caucus some members are having reservations and questioning the strategy to follow. Nevertheless, our party's line is clear: we will fiercely oppose the Liberal government's initiative.
This bill on clarity is also an instrument of division. It shows us how to break up our country and, in the meantime, how to shatter the common interests that parliamentarians share in the hope of eradicating poverty. Why not try to build something positive to solve this problem? Instead we are given the instructions on how to break up a country. We are told how to destroy parliament. We are told how to drive a wedge between family members, individuals and the provinces.
Let us talk about the provinces. The supreme court has always referred to the politicians. The federal government has decided to act on its own and ignore the provinces. How many provinces today have stated that they agree with the federal government? They are divided. Is that what the federal government's strategy is all about? This is pure machiavellianism. It is more than machiavellianism 101. It could give us a lecture on this theme.
Where are the provinces that support the federal government in today's newspapers?